People,

Two things are unbelievable to me:

1) Winter seems to be here. Can I get a huge 'what the motherhell?' from Mother Nature? And the coming of winter inevitably means that The Beast is going to get an oil change, a carb cleaning, a good washing, some gas stabilization and then a long rest in the shed. Damn. I thought I at least had a couple more weeks.

2) Contrary to the predictions of many, I came through my first season as a licensed motorcyclist without dying. I know a lot of you lost money on this and for that I'm sorry, but what can you do? Maybe next year. In fact, I not only didn't die, I came through with nary a scratch, my worst injury being a couple of moderately severe burns received from the tailpipe. Fate, consider yourself tempted.

Anyway, I'm sad to see it go, but it was a great season. And I guess now that it's over I can get started again on stories about all the horrible and annoying people on the T.

Buckle your seat belts.